But there are also some historical reasons. Or at least reasons from my personal history.
Here is a little context
Feb 10 Showed up on my Facebook Feed again, and I realized why I had not been feeling well. Even though I wasn't aware of the date, my body was remembering the loss and pushing me to grieve.
Last time I wrote about Feb 10, I wrote that I had found "Home".
It was a year later that I found out I would be leaving that place.
That news came after a weekend full of ministry that spoke to my soul in ways that ministry rarely does, and in ways that only ministry can.
One of my best memories of Florida, followed by one of my least favorite memories of my ministry from Florida.
The simple story would be to say that I was meant to be here all along. But that simply isn't true. I wouldn't be able to do the work I am doing now if not for my time in Florida. For that matter, I wouldn't be able to do it as well as I am without the phone calls with JD Rose while at the church in Southern California. Or without the lessons learned in the place before that. And really when you think about it, my time in seminary prepared me....
My story is not a straight path. It never has been.
While this week holds the memories of finding two things that I was so certain of not being what I thought they would be. It also holds plenty of joy. Some of them are mentioned in the blogs above. Some have happened in the three years since I wrote that blog.
This is my fourth church since the "first" Feb 10, and my fifth home.
Each place feels like I was there for a life time. Some were comfortable, some were much less so. Some I am proud at what I accomplished. Some I have taken lessons from those places and worked to become a better person and a better minister. Some held a little of column A and a little of column B.
The start of February has held for me
Starting a job search
Receiving a Scout Patch for a Pinewood Derby (all I did was unlock the doors)
A winter retreat with some of the best youth around
A trip to Universal with more of the same
Delivering meds to a snow bound friend
Taking 5th and 6th graders on a hike at night in the rain (way more fun than it seems)
One of my favorite nights serving at Trinity UMC
Meeting Popeye
and continuing my song.
--Serving God alongside all of you, just from further away
--Jesse Letourneau
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| A little bit of Gonzo in the new office just for good measure |
